[GCARC] Going Mobile on VHF / UHF

[kbfrank3 at verizon.net]

Tony, for the last few years I have used a Yaesu FTM-400DM dualbander in my
car.  I purchased this originally for C4FM capability but find there is
little C4FM activity out there . . . it is mostly analog FM.
However, the FTM-400 has built in APRS, and I find this particularly useful
because the XYL (Susan W6SKT) can track my whereabouts without bothering me
with a cell phone call while I am driving.
Kenwood also offers a high end dual band radio with APRS.  These Kenwood and
Yaesu radios with APRS are expensive.  The new Yaesu FTM-300 is a bit
cheaper, selling for about $450 at HRO.
Note that ICOM mobile radios with DSTAR use DPRS, which is similar but not
as versatile as APRS because DPRS will not work unless you are in range of a
DSTAR repeater.
My recommendation:  unless you really want digital voice (i.e. DMR, C4FM or
DSTAR) or want APRS, save your money and just purchase a FM dualbander from
ICOM, Kenwood or Yaesu.
	Karl W2KBF
P.S. these things are a pain to program manually, so budget a few $ for RT
systems software and a programming cable.
P.S. some people carry mobile hotspots with them, that use cell phone data
to link their radio to reflectors.  In this case, you might consider DMR but
I think this is outside the scope of your question if you just want a radio
for traditional RF contacts.

-----Original Message-----
From: gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net <gcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
Behalf Of Tony Starr
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2021 8:49 AM
To: GLOUCESTER CLUB <gcarc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [GCARC] Going Mobile on VHF / UHF

Greetings All!

I recently replaced my old Ford truck with a very similar one that is ten
years newer.  The first thing I thought about was putting a mobile
transceiver in it. In the old days, I always had a 2 meter FM transceiver in
my vehicles, up until about the mid 90's, but got away from that while I was
QRT for 20 years or so. For whatever reason, I am now interested in doing
that again.

The problem now is, there are so many options, maybe too many.  Two meter
only, dual band, FM only, C4FM, D-Star, etc. And while I prefer FM to any
digital voice mode, I really want to be where the most activity is. I should
reveal that I currently have an older Kenwood dual band FM only radio in the
shack, and a newer Yaesu 2m FM HT, but I really want to buy a new or newer
used radio for the truck, perhaps with more modes or bands, if possible. I
just don't know what to get.

So if anyone is currently active on the VHF and UHF voice modes, especially
from the mobile, please reply and give me some insight, especially on where
you find the most activity these days. And put it out on the reflector if
you can, so that others who may be wondering the same thing can get the
benefit of your feedback. I am looking forward to hearing from many of you
very soon. Thanks and 73!

Tony Starr, K3TS
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